Which of the following best describes the characteristic feature of an entry wound caused by a firearm?

Explanation

## Entry Wound Characteristics **Key Point:** An entry wound is typically **smaller than the exit wound** and is characterized by an **inverted cone of tissue** (internal beveling) along with a **marginal abrasion collar** (abrasion rim) formed by the bullet scraping the epidermis as it penetrates the skin. ### Morphological Features of Entry vs. Exit Wounds | Feature | Entry Wound | Exit Wound | |---------|-------------|------------| | **Size** | Smaller (≈ bullet diameter) | Larger (often 1.5–2× entry) | | **Shape** | Circular or oval | Irregular, **stellate**, or cruciform | | **Margins** | Abrasion collar (inverted/inward) | Everted, split, ragged | | **Tissue Beveling** | **Inward** (inverted cone) | Outward (beveled edges) | | **Soot/Fouling** | Present if close range | Absent | **High-Yield:** Option B correctly describes the entry wound — it is **smaller than the exit wound** with an **inverted cone of tissue** (internal beveling), reflecting the bullet's inward trajectory through skin and subcutaneous tissue. **Why Option C is WRONG:** A **stellate shape** is the hallmark of an **exit wound** (or a contact-range entry wound over bone), not a typical entry wound. Stellate tearing occurs at the exit because the bullet exits with deformed/fragmented profile causing explosive outward tissue displacement. The abrasion collar alone does not make an entry wound stellate. **Clinical Pearl:** The **abrasion collar** (abrasion rim/ring of contusion) is the single most reliable feature to distinguish entry from exit wounds. It is formed by the bullet's kinetic energy forcing the epidermis inward and abrading it against the underlying dermis. However, the overall shape of a typical entry wound is **circular or oval**, not stellate. **Mnemonic:** **Entry = Inverted cone + Abrasion collar + Smaller size** — the bullet punches inward, creating an inward-beveled, cone-shaped defect. [cite: Vij Textbook of Forensic Medicine, Ch 8; Reddy's Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Firearm Injuries chapter]